(Note: While normally Take the Fifth provides more detailed summaries for opinions designated for publication and only basic disposition notes and links for unpublished opinions, because this is a catch-up post after two weeks of being away from the blog, we are just providing the links and basic disposition notes for both published and unpublished … More March 19-31, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Castro, 18-10137, appeal from N.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), habeas corpus Denying petition for rehearing, but withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion that vacates Certificate of Appealability and dismisses appeal from denial of § 2255 petition. The Court held that it had the power to vacate … More March 14-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Sheperd, 19-20073, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Smith, Willett, Duncan), criminal, Sixth Amendment, ineffective assistance of counsel Remanding to district court to hold evidentiary hearing on whether defendant’s pretrial counsel’s conflict of interest adversely affected her right to representation. From Judge Willett’s comprehensive introduction: “‘The Sixth Amendment is the … More March 7-8, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication B.A. Kelly Land Co. v. Aethon Energy Operating, L.L.C., 20-30090, appeal from W.D. La. Dennis, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), mineral law Reversing in part, rendering in part, vacating in part, and affirming in part district court’s summary judgment in favor of defendant operator of two oil and gas production units and denial … More February 11, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Landmark American Insurance Co. v. SCD Memorial Place II, L.L.C., 20-20389, appeal from S.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance Reversing summary judgment in favor of insured on action regarding coverage of flood-related damage sustained during Hurricane Harvey, and rendering judgment in favor of insurer. The policy at issue here is … More February 3, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Williams v. Boeing Co., 18-31158, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Southwick, Graves, Engelhardt), personal tort, multi-district litigation Reversing in part final judgment entered in mesothelioma case by district court in Louisiana after summary judgment by MDL court in Pennsylvania, and remanded for further proceedings. The Court held that the MDL district … More January 11-14, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Cleven v. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., No. 18-50846, c/w Brown v. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., No. 18-50851, appeal from W.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Smith, Dennis), Dennis, J., dissenting; class action, breach of contract On a Rule 23(f) appeal, reversing district court’s certification of classes in two actions against apartment company arising … More December 9, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Gross v. Keen Group Solutions, L.L.C., 20-20594, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Smith, Haynes), Haynes, J., dissenting; appellate jurisdiction Dismissing appeal of district court’s denial of defendant’s Rule 60(b)(5) motion in dispute over whether arbitration award had been fully satisfied. The Court found that “[t]he district court here still has … More December 2-3, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication BVS Construction, Inc. v. Prosperity Bank, 21-50274, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Clement, Southwick, Willett), bankruptcy, res judicata Affirming district court’s and bankruptcy court’s overruling of debtor’s claim objection to secured creditor’s proof of claim, on basis that “res judicata, judicial estoppel, and judicial admission barred [debtor’s] claim objection on the … More November 15, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Stevens v. St. Tammany Parish Government, 20-30644, appeal from E.D. La. Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson), environmental law, res judicata Affirming dismissal of state-law claims arising from sewage and stormwater drainage across plaintiffs’ properties on res judicata grounds, and affirming dismissal of Clean Water Act claims for failure to state a claim. … More November 3, 2021, opinions
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